About Us
Established in 1983, the Vancouver Police Historical Society is an independent non-profit organization and registered charity. An elected volunteer Board of Directors directs the museum’s operations.
Mandate
The Vancouver Police Museum
- Collects, preserves and interprets the history of the Vancouver Police Department and its context within policing in Vancouver
- Provides a resource for those examining the role of the Vancouver Police Department across time and across cultures
- Provides educational opportunities to explore the science of police work
Location
The museum opened its doors in 1986 in the former Coroner’s Courtroom at 240 E. Cordova Street, a municipally designated heritage building.
Funding
The museum is self-funded through admission and program fees, membership fees, donations, gift shop sales, and project grants.
Admission Rates & Hours
Open hours are 9 am to 5 pm, Monday-Saturday.
Admission: $7 / adults, $5 / students and seniors, $20 / families (two adults and two youth under 17), Historical Society members are always free.
Collection
The museum collection consists of approximately 20,000+ objects, papers, photographs and published materials relating to the history of policing in Vancouver. Approximately 65% of the artifacts in the collection are currently on display.
Visitors and Supporters
18,224 people visited the museum in 2007, including 5831 students.
Over 43,800 students have participated in the museum’s popular educational programs. These programs include; Mini Police Academy (Grades K-3), Forensic Science (Grades 4-12, Post-Secondary, ESL), Walking The Beat (Grades 8-12, Post-Secondary, Adult ESL). The museum also offers a number of public programs, including; Sins of the City Walking Tour and Forensic Science Drop-ins.
The Vancouver Police Historical Society currently has 888 members.
Scholarship
Since 1998, the museum has awarded the Chief Raymond J. Canuel Memorial Scholarship to exceptional students graduating from grade 12 with plans to pursue a career in law enforcement. Twenty-three scholarships have been awarded to date. In June 2008, two $1000 scholarships will be awarded.
Supporters
Major supporters of the museum include the City of Vancouver, the Vancouver Police Department, the British Columbia Gaming Commission, Canadian Heritage, Human Resources Development Canada and the Vancouver Foundation. For a complete list of our sponsors in 2007, click here.